Create a Business Plan

Business Plan

From The Business of Camp, Ann Sheets and Dave Thoensen (release date February 2014)

Developing a business plan will force you, as the camp owner or director, to take an objective, unemotional look at your camp in its entirety. Often new or prospective camp owners and directors remember all the fun, the relationships, and excitement of attending camp as a child, overlooking the fact that operating a camp is much, much more.

Having a well- thought-out business plan can provide on-ongoing guidance as the camp is developed, as well as providing the basis for a financial plan that potential lenders or investors can use in evaluating your business.

Although there are many different way in which to write a business plan, camps may want to include these parts

Cover Sheet

Executive Summary

Introduction

Program

Staffing

Operations, Facilities, and Equipment

Marketing

Financial

Risk Management

Appendices

You may have reason to add or delete a section or re-arrange the order, but your business plan should be thorough and should provide an overall structure for the growth of your new business – which happens to be a camp. A good business plan provides direction for the first three to five years of your venture and should lay out goals in each of the sections and the action steps you will take to accomplish those goals. Keep in mind that this plan is the first impression that your camp will make with individuals who may be key to the realization of your dreams, so make certain that your plan is professional, well-written, with no mistakes or typographical errors, and exhibits the high quality that you expect of your business.

The U.S. Small Business Administration [2](SBA) or a business center at your local college are two good resources for assistance with compiling your business plan.

Also, The U.S. Small Business Administration[3] offers many loan programs that can assist in a variety of business needs. There are many different types of costs and requirements when opening a business, expanding a business or just trying to keep a business running smoothly. SBA may be able to assist businesses with an array of different loan options.